Fulham 2 West Brom 0 - Report and pictures

In a clash that was always going to have a big say on events at the bottom of the Premier League, Slaven Bilic’s side delivered arguably their worst performance of the season so far.

First half goals from Bobby Decordova-Reid and Ola Aina ensured it was Scott Parker’s side who deservedly came away with the points.

But while the hosts were good, Albion were poor with Bilic’s men creating next to nothing over the course of the 90 minutes.

In truth, Fulham could have won by a greater margin with Semi Ajayi clearing off the line twice in the space of just a few seconds to deny Tom Cairney and Decordova-Reid.

The result means the Baggies, whose only win in their last 13 outings has come against Harrogate, have dropped into the bottom three of the Premier League at the expense of their opponents.

Report

Bilic opted to keep faith with the team that started at Brighton when naming his starting line-up with the Baggies continuing in a 4-3-3 formation.

Karlan Grant, fresh from scoring his first Albion goal at the Amex, continued as the central striker with Matheus Pereira on the right wing and Grady Diangana on the left.

In the middle of the park, Filip Krovinovic was somewhat surprisingly deployed as the holding midfielder with Conor Gallagher and Jake Livermore slightly more advanced.

Fulham, who included former Albion loanee Tosin Adarabioyo in their starting XI, also lined up in a 4-3-3 system.

Aleksandar Mitrovic led the line with Decordova-Reid and Ademola Lookman on the wings.

The Baggies came close to opening the scoring inside the first few minutes when a miss-hit cross from Conor Townsend clipped the top of the crossbar with goalkeeper Alphonse Areola stranded.

With so much at stake for both sides, there had been fears before kick-off that the game would be quite cagey.

But that didn’t prove to be the case in the opening 20 minutes with both teams eager to play on the front foot in a match that was open and entertaining.

It was Fulham, though, who opened the scoring midway through the half.

The goal arrived after former Albion target Antonee Robinson delivered a cross to the back post which Mitrovic nodded back into the danger area.

And there waiting was Decordova-Reid who glanced a header past Sam Johnstone and into the net.

Allowing both Mitrovic and Decordova-Reid free headers in the box was dreadful defending from the Baggies.

But there was nothing they could do when the hosts then doubled their advantage just four minutes later.

There didn’t seem a lot on when Aina collected the ball 25-yards from goal.

But the summer signing from Torino then spectacularly lashed the ball into the top corner with a strike no goalkeeper would have stopped.

Bilic’s men should have pulled a goal back in the 37th minute when Grant entered the box after latching onto a poor pass from Andre-Frank Anguissa.

But the striker then drilled a shot off-target when he really should have done better.

And that proved to be Albion’s best chance of the half where the Baggies simply didn’t get enough from their front players.

Fulham made a change at the break with Harrison Reed replacing Mario Lemina. Bilic, though, opted to stick with his underperforming side.

Albion improved following the re-start with Townsend whipping in a dangerous cross that Antonee Robinson did well to head clear ahead of Grant.

Pereira then won a free-kick 25-yards out but sent it straight into the wall.

Bilic looked to shake things up just before the hour mark with Callum Robinson and Romaine Sawyers replacing Pereira and Livermore.

Pereira responded to being taken off by walking straight down the tunnel.

Despite the changes, it was Fulham who then enjoyed a spell where they looked like they would grab a third.

The excellent Anguissa tricked his way past two men before seeing a shot inside the area blocked. Cairney also went close from distance.

Albion needed to increase their energy, their tempo and their quality.

But with 10 minutes remaining, Fulham were the only side looking dangerous and they again came close to grabbing a third.

Johnstone rushed off his line to clear the ball ahead of Lookman but only succeeded in finding Cairney who chipped him from 20-yards.

Ajayi headed off the line but only as far as Decordova-Reid who then saw a fierce strike from 10-yards again blocked on the line by the Nigerian international.

And that proved to be the last meaningful chance of the match with Fulham coming away clear and deserved winners.

Teams

Fulham: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson, Cairney, Decordova-Reid (Cavalerio 85), Lemina (Reed 46), Anguissa, Lookman (Bryan 90), Mitrovic.

Subs not used: Rodak, Odoi, Ream, Loftus-Cheek.

Albion (4-3-3): Johnstone, Furlong, Ivanovic, Ajayi, Townsend, Livermore (Sawyers 56), Gallagher, Krovinovic (Phillips 70), Pereira (Robinson 56), Diangana, Grant.

Subs not used: Button, Bartley, Gibbs, Edwards.